Indigo

Found this interesting, this guy (worth a follow, for what it's worth) isn't someone that indulges in any kind of speculation etc, so when he says something will happen/has happened it's a pretty safe bet that it's true. I remember there was talk at the time that the club were speaking to him before but ultimately Emery was their first choice. Speaks to the appeal of the job.

This is a belter of a stat.

If nothing else I don't mind the Betano logo, in the sense that it seems fairly simple, inoffensive and nowhere near as gaudy as BK8 and others around the world.

I think this season has shown that this team and manager are of a great standard, and with so many useful players to return that have missed out for much of the year it's not like there's a huge amount that can or needs to be done to realistically improve the squad. I agree re: both full back positions though, for differing reasons. Right back is an obvious one for me, Konsa has been quality as always but is better at CB, and while I like Cash and don't want to be seen to be harsh on him I think he's just a good, traditional right back which this team doesn't really use. So while he's done well at times he's equally not naturally suited to the more defensive position and he's not really the kind of wing back that can beat his man and be a consistent danger going forward, but if he went to say a West Ham or Fulham where he'd play as more of a standard right back I think he'd be a big success. Bologna are almost like the Serie A version of Villa this season, not sure how likely of a signing he'd be but from what I've seen their right back Stefan Posch could be a great fit for the system. He was originally a CB that's gone to another level after changing position and been a big player for them in the process. For the FBRef fans among us he puts up some of the best numbers in Europe for his passing and number of touches per game, plus solid defensive ones. Only 26 and fairly tall which would help also aid the situation when it comes to defending set-pieces. Have seen the odd Bologna game this season and just think he looks a great fit for that role, which would then allow Konsa to play in his preferred position a bit more often too. On the opposite flank, both Digne and Moreno have been brilliant at different times over the last couple of seasons, but it just feels like a position that needs freshening up given their respective ages and contract situations. If Ipswich don't go up I still think we should be all over Leif Davis, he's put up ridiculous numbers this season and would be perfect in that attacking full back role. Would also add to the homegrown number - which the club are apparently quite conscious of - and as far as I know doesn't have a huge amount of time left on his contract. Obviously would hinge a lot on Ipswich not getting promoted, and there'll likely be big competition for him, but the more the season has gone on the more he looks like a great fit for this team. Last position I think definitely needs to be addressed is DM, be that cover for Kamara or someone that can also play with him when he's back. As well as the team has done in his absence he's the only player of his profile in the squad so we could do with that being given a bit of balance. Unless Iroegbunam manages to cement himself as this, but not sure that looks too likely at this moment unfortunately. Can also see the club really pushing for Hermoso on a free, feels like the kind of signing current Villa would make and he'd be a pretty useful and versatile Lenglet replacement given he could also play at left back.

He's been quietly excellent of late in the league, today and vs Arsenal you wouldn't have noticed the absence of Luiz with how Tielemans played the role. Has proved to be a good signing after some silly abuse earlier in the season.

There's obviously other phenomenal players in this league but as of right now there isn't another player more deserving of POTY than this guy. He was absolutely unplayable today (against a quality defender too) as he has been for most of the season, no purple patches or anything of the sort, just consistently excellent for the entirety of the season with the numbers to back it up. What a player.

I think he's a prime example of how important coaching of this level is for a player. Boro fans, Bournemouth fans and folk that more broadly watch the Championship didn't seem to rate him, but it's plain to see that he has a lot of the raw materials there which Emery et al obviously trusted themselves to be able to get something out of, and performances like this are the result. That's with only having joined just a few months ago too. There's a serious player in there.

HUGE. Can't be overstated how big every win is for the remainder for the season, however it comes, but that was a brilliant performance with an absolutely trojan effort from a group of players you'd forgive for being absolutely exhausted given the game on Thursday. Rogers, Watkins, Emery, Tielemans, Torres - all brilliant. Brilliant all round really. What a season this is.

Quite like this Bournemouth side, they've got a good up-and-coming manager and have made some interesting signings that have looked good albeit inconsistent as is the norm with young players/ones still settling into the league. Despite this Villa are the better side and you'd have to be confident of beating them at home on a regular day, but there's really no telling how things will go given the shift put in on Thursday coupled with the number of absentees. Each win however they come at this stage of the season is huge. Side note but I stumbled on this Bournemouth fan channel below when we played them last season and found it quite good. Watched their preview for this game and they give a good insight into them whilst being quite complimentary of Villa as well.

Absolutely blessed to get through there, Lille over the two legs were much the better side. The ref played his part by being totally and utterly unable to control that game, and just contributed to how ridiculous a scene it became. A special kind of useless for both teams. In a weird way though it probably helped because it felt like the only way we were getting through was via a backs-to-the-wally shithousery job that is the world in which Martinez thrives, and that he did. We're on our last legs though, people in the match thread were talking about bottling etc but they just looked totally wrecked to me. Not ideal for them to struggle through another 30 minutes but hopefully they can ride the wave of positivity that winning brings through the back end of the season.

This has been an unbelievably poor performance. Constantly thinking there's time for them to wake up and come into the game and it's only getting worse.

Someone check if @CVByrne is OK.

All this grief for the ref is...interesting. If anything we've gotten away with one as McGinn had a similar shirt pull tp White's only he wasn't booked when the ball eventually went out of play. Arsenal are a brilliant side. Villa have done well to stay in it and just need some luck to go our way with it, Watkins was desperately unfortunate with that chance. Carlos has been absolutely imperious so far.

A game like this makes the Spurs 4-0 even more frustrating in hindsight. They're clearly a very good side, but are still there to be got at and certainly didn't deserve the level of respect and/or fear we played them with at home.

I think we'll be fine for 5th because it'll take some unbelievable turnaround from United to catch us, which I don't think they're capable of. Cannot see 4th happening at all though. Villa willingly let the City game go during the week, and playing as we have the Arsenal game will probably follow a similar script, whereas I can see Spurs really putting it up to these sides in their games and even nicking the odd point which could prove important. Stumbling over the line into 5th and coming out of it in the Champions League would be an incredible season all the same.

That's an old school Villa shambles.

Is the season still over?

Martinez out through illness so not the end of the world. Teams are resting players all over the place for this round, particularly the sides in Europe. City and Arsenal are in the title race and have benched the likes of Haaland, KDB, Rice etc, so I don't think it's that much of a shock Emery has done similar. It's also worth noting that we could feasibly still be in the game with, say, an hour gone, in which case bringing on Bailey and Tielemans could be real game-changers.

Speaks to how ridiculous their squad is that even with the absentees they'll likely be starting the likes of Foden, Rodri, Silva, Alvarez, Grealish, Dias, Gvardiol, Akanji, Kovacic... Still though, better opportunity than it usually is at that rate.

Funnily enough that was Emery's Arsenal that it happened to. Hopefully not a bad omen!

If Ipswich don't go up and Villa see fit to look to get another left back through the door in the event of Digne/Moreno leaving then Davis could be a great signing. He's been excellent playing a similar type of role and would be another homegrown player which by a couple of accounts they're wary of keeping on top of numbers-wise. Don't think there's a huge amount of time left on his contract either.

Enjoyable foreshadowing.

Some of the positives to his game are things that can't really be taught, whilst the negatives can be, and he's with the right coach to improve them. We're not going to see the best of him this season but there looks a real player there for when we do.

A point is more than United deserve but thank god they didn't get out with all three here. It would have been heartbreaking all round.

I understand why Moreno gets the nod as what he offers in theory gives the team more balance, but Digne is simply a better footballer and definitely having the superior season. I feel a lot more comfortable with him on the pitch at the moment.